Best practice

We do this through a number of ways including supporting and developing networks and partnerships of professionals involved in the prevention, care and treatment of those living with HIV at different levels across Scotland. Providing up to date information on news, policy, practice, treatment, research, etc through our e Updates (link to sign-up form). We also meet up with agencies to discuss their needs, priorities and capacity in relation to the development of policy, services and resources that are in line with evidence and best practice.

Confidentiality – an example of effective consultation

The General Medical Council (GMC) engaged in a thorough and effective consultation with HIV Scotland in development of their guidelines on Confidentiality and on their Supplementary Guidelines Confidentiality_disclosing_info_serious_commun_diseases_2009.pdf [PDF - 124kB]. HIV Scotland in turn played a pivotal consultative role with the voluntary sector:

By engaging voluntary sector organisations, individuals living with HIV, specialists’ in data collection and confidentiality, early on in the consultative process, HIV Scotland were able to establish two-way dialogue between the GMC and HIV sector as a whole. Having a named individual from the GMC who could respond to views and offer information on request was particularly important.

HIV Scotland wrote various articles in the positive press and “GMC Today” highlighting the fact that poor practice, though rare, does exist and efforts are needed to improve confidentiality and trust generally.

By disseminating information throughout the sector and attended the launch of the new guidelines HIV Scotland acted as the catalyst for important changes, including recognition that safeguarding confidential information is the responsibility of everyone in the wider healthcare team and disclosure without consent is the very last resort, permitted only in cases where there is otherwise clear evidence of a risk of serious harm to others. This collaboration has enabled continuing dialogue on other topics and interest within the GMC on HIV.

HIV Wake Up - an example of partnership and communication

The HIV Wake Up website won Best Website at the Association for Healthcare Communications and Marketing and the campaign itself won a Highly Commended for Partnership Working.

The work was nominated for the prestigious DADI awards.

HIV Wake-Up Campaign Evaluation, February 2011 [PDF - 1MB]: This report details research which was undertaken pre and post-campaign to evaluate the cut through of the HIV Wake Up message with MSM and non-HIV specialist Health Professionals (HP), and to determine if it had impacted on awareness of HIV, attitudes towards testing, prevention and safer sex. NHS Health Scotland have used these findings to continue to inform the ongoing development of the HIV Wake-Up website having been successful in bidding for an extension in 2011/12.

Waverley Care – an example of innovation and responsiveness

Waverley Care is one of the longest standing voluntary sector agencies in Scotland, founded in 1989 to provide services directly to people living with HIV. Over the years they have achieved a lot in relation to demonstrating good practice when working with people living with HIV. This has included the development of new services to changing client groups such as its African health project.

Some of their awards include:

• Scottish Business in the Community: Best Business-Community Relationship Award 1993
• Scottish Employee Volunteering Initiative: Partnership Award 1999
• UK Charity Awards: Fundraising Initiative of the Year 2000
• African HIV Policy Network: Best Practice in Empowering African Communities Award 2008

Other examples to inform our work:

Here is a list of recommended links to documents and other sources highlighting practical examples that can inform and guide your work:

A short film promoting the Stigma Index an initiative addressing stigma relating to HIV while also advocating on the key barriers and issues perpetuating stigma. Click here for link to video on You Tube.

A campaigning tool for the Criminalize Hate not HIV campaign which was launched at the World AIDS Conference in Vienna last summer. Click here for link to video on You Tube

In 2009, NHS Lothian worked with playwright/actor Lisa Nicoll to devise an innovative HIV-awareness play, Touched. Waverley Care highly recommend this play as a tool to communicate to realities of HIV and HIV stigma. To read more about the play as a PDF document click here. [PDF - 488kB]

National Children’s Bureau practical guide HIV_forum_schools.pdf [PDF - 123kB] that will help schools support children infected or affected by HIV.

Report to the UNAIDS HIV Prevention Reference Group on Developing Minimum Quality Standards for HIV Prevention Interventions Develop_quality_standards_hiv_prevent.pdf [PDF - 322kB].

A Handbook on Best Practices Regarding HIV and AIDS for People with Disabilities.Hiv-aids-and-disabilities-handbook.pdf [PDF - 3MB]

Link to a range of UK Consortium on AIDS and International Development publications and reports, including Working Positively: guide for NGOs Managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace and Refugees, Displaced People and their Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. www.aidsconsortium.org.uk/public.html

This briefing from ActionAid’s HIV/AIDS team sets out an innovative approach to involving men effectively in HIV prevention, including tackling the domestic and sexual violence which exposes both women and men to the risk of HIV infection. Safe_crossing.pdf [PDF - 167kB]

Good practice guides produced by the Alliance and the Global Network of People Living with HIV:

Greater involvement of people living with HIV.

HIV and drug use: Community responses to injecting drug use and HIV.

HIV programming standards - for use in the design and evaluation of the Alliance services and programmes.